The Thirteenth Curse by Curtis Jobling

Author:Curtis Jobling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2015-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

xxx

HEADING DOWNSTAIRS

Not for the first time that night, Max hurled. This one was a dry upchuck, since the remaining contents of his stomach had been evacuated three heaves ago. His eyes strained, leaking tears, as he leaned against the sewer wall. When his innards stopped contracting, he placed his forearm over his mouth, sucking at his bomber jacket sleeve as he tried to block out the stench.

Odious Crumb turned in the effluence ahead, looking back at the trailing boy. He kept his voice low, aware that the sound might carry through the labyrinth. “What’s the matter, Master Maxwell? Ain’t never crawled through a tunnel o’ turds before?”

Max retched. “You have?”

Crumb kicked a boot through the foul river of feculence as merrily as a child skipping through puddles. “Used to play hide-and-seek in the sewers as a nipper. What harm did a bit of dookie ever do anyone?”

“Besides cholera and typhoid, nothing at all. Lead on, poopmeister.”

Max fell in behind his half goblin guide, flashlight trained ahead, the pawnbroker cutting through the swamp in purposeful strides. Max followed in his wake, keeping his eyes fixed on Crumb’s back instead of the filth he waded through. The man had kindly sold the boy a pair of secondhand fishing waders back in his shop; Crumb was helping Max out, no doubt about it, but clearly saw no harm in making a little profit along the way.

“You’re sure you know where you’re going?” Max asked, his voice muffled by his jacket sleeve. “We must have traveled miles!”

“Don’t worry, lad. I’ll get you to Clay.”

Max felt more than a little anxious placing all his trust in the pawnbroker, but he was out of alternatives. Crumb was leading him down into a world where few Van Helsings had stepped, one that no doubt teemed with creatures hungry for Max’s flesh. But every monster, big and small, vicious or harmless, was after him, and until he’d solved the mystery, no place—not even home—was safe.

Crumb turned off down a tributary, narrower than the main tunnel they’d been following. His fingers traced the uneven stones of the wall, picking at the lichen-covered brickwork. Occasionally, he would place a leathery ear to the uneven surface, even stopping to sniff at the air at intervals. What he expected to smell over the stench, Max could only imagine.

“Please tell me your nose is broken,” said Max, stifling a repeated urge to barf.

Crumb chuckled. “This nose works perfectly well, my lad. I’ve got my goblin genes to thank for my super schnoz.”

“What is it you think you can smell? Reckon it’s a crapload of crap, with a hint of crap thrown in for good measure.”

“Hard as it may be for you to believe, Master Maxwell, it’s fresh air I’m sniffin’.”

“Now I know you’re kidding. We’re going around in circles, and I’m running out of time, Mr. Crumb. You said you could lead me into the Undercity. No offense, but this looks like an ordinary sewer. Just like the last tunnel did. And the tunnel before that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.